Amazon Instant vs Netflix vs Redbox

May 13
11:36

2015

Jason Kassel, PhD

Jason Kassel, PhD

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Watching movies and television is something we all want to do. You want to relax at home or on the go with your favorite titles. Thanks to the numerous media streaming services available, this is an easy task. You can watch almost anything anywhere. The only problem is that you have to choose between the many available services, which is not as easy as you might think. Here, you will learn a little more about three major services for watching movies and shows.

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The three are Amazon Instant Video,Amazon Instant vs Netflix vs Redbox Articles Netflix, and Redbox. They each have their own advantages and disadvantages. If you want to make a choice of the three mentioned here, learn as much about them as possible. Make sure that you choose the one that fits into your budget that you like, and that is worth the money that you spend on it.

Amazon Instant Video

Amazon Instant Video has a huge selection of content. You have movies and television shows, both new and old, available. It is the only one that allows you to stream some of the newest releases. You will not find as many new releases as you will find with other services, but there are streaming options that you do not have with Netflix. The only downside with this content is that you have to pay to watch each episode or movie. If you are a Prime member, though, many of the movies and shows will come with your membership. Not all will, but it is still a rather large selection.

Using Amazon Instant Video on different devices is not that difficult. There is an app for most, though Android has not caught up fully yet. Still, you can usually find a way to use Amazon Instant Video from home or on the go with most devices. If you have an Amazon Fire TV Stick or Box, it is even easier. This device makes it possible to watch your shows and movies in a simple, straightforward manner. Similar devices, such as the Apple TV and game consoles, also have apps for Amazon Instant Video.

The price is unbeatable. To get into the Amazon Instant Video catalog, you do not have to pay anything. The shows and movies themselves are what cost money. To actually watch one, you will have to pay the rental or purchase fee, which is anywhere from $.99 to $14.99. Amazon Prime members can watch some of the available content free of charge since many of the titles come with the membership.

Netflix

Netflix is usually viewed as the best when it comes to content. This is because it has the largest streaming library of movies and television shows of any of the streaming services. This content includes their original shows, as well, like Orange is the New Black. On top of streaming content, there are titles available only through DVD rental. This service is an extra charge, but it does give you access to more titles than you have with streaming alone.

You can access Netflix from anywhere. There is an app for everyone and you can use Netflix on any computer. This means that you will always have access to your favorite movies and television shows wherever you go. The clean, intuitive layout of the application makes it easy to navigate, too. You can enjoy this selection at all times.

The price is $8.99 for the regular plan. There are others, both cheaper and more expensive, available. This cost is about the same as what you would have to pay with any similar service, but just a little more. Most other services come in at just under this amount.

Redbox

Content with Redbox is okay. If you prefer streaming online and do not want to use the kiosks, you will not like the service. It is much smaller than the competitors’ selections, which means that you are not getting as much for the cost. You do have access to the kiosks if you would like a physical movie, though. These kiosks carry a couple hundred copies of new releases that you will not find elsewhere. Games are also available, which makes Redbox stand out quite a bit.

Availability is not that great. The application is not widely available so streaming is not always easy. Obviously, if you do not have a DVD or Blu-ray player, you cannot use the physical copies, either. For people who use Redbox for the physical copies, kiosks are usually easy to find.

At $8 a month, it is an average price. If you prefer renting physical copies of new releases, this is a good price.

Overall, they each have their advantages. You have to consider what would work best for your individual situation before moving forward with any. You want to make sure that you spend your money wisely rather than paying for something that you will not like.